Mayor Randy Ewers will seek another term

Published: Tuesday, May 1, 2007 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, May 1, 2007 at 5:40 a.m.

OCALA - Ocala Mayor Randy Ewers plans to seek re-election this October.
Ewers, 39, an industrial engineer with fire apparatus company Class-1, was first elected in October 2005. As mayor, he is the civilian head of the Ocala Police Department and an ambassador for city government. He has veto power over City Council votes.
"I feel like I've kind of gotten into the groove of it," Ewers said of the mayor's post.
If elected to a second term, Ewers said he wants to work with police leadership to deal with the crunch that property tax reform may have on the department's budget. He also wants to use the office of mayor to push for economic development at the Ocala International Airport and the redevelopment of downtown.
Ewers also has formed a committee of hospitality industry representatives to work on strategies to combat underage drinking. Ewers formed the committee after he vetoed a November 2006 City Council decision to repeal Ocala's hotly debated ban on customers under age 21 entering clubs and lounges serving liquor.
Ocala's mayor serves a two-year term and receives a monthly salary of $550.
In addition to mayor, the City Council seats for Districts 2 and 4 are up in October. District 4 incumbent Kent Guinn has announced he plans to run for a third term. District 2 incumbent Mary Sue Rich said she will seek a fourth term if her health allows. Rich recently underwent neck surgery.
Ocala City Council members serve four-year terms and receive monthly salaries of $200.
The formal qualifying period for all candidates will run from noon Aug. 27 to noon Aug. 31, with city elections Oct. 16.
If candidates raise campaign cash before the qualifying period, they must file paperwork at the City Clerk's office, on the first floor of City Hall, 151 S.E. Osceola Ave. City Clerk Valerie Forster said no one has filed campaign finance paperwork yet.
Christopher Curry may be reached at chris.curry@starbanner.com or (352) 867-4115.

OCALA - Ocala Mayor Randy Ewers plans to seek re-election this October.<BR>
Ewers, 39, an industrial engineer with fire apparatus company Class-1, was first elected in October 2005. As mayor, he is the civilian head of the Ocala Police Department and an ambassador for city government. He has veto power over City Council votes.<BR>
"I feel like I've kind of gotten into the groove of it," Ewers said of the mayor's post.<BR>
If elected to a second term, Ewers said he wants to work with police leadership to deal with the crunch that property tax reform may have on the department's budget. He also wants to use the office of mayor to push for economic development at the Ocala International Airport and the redevelopment of downtown.<BR>
Ewers also has formed a committee of hospitality industry representatives to work on strategies to combat underage drinking. Ewers formed the committee after he vetoed a November 2006 City Council decision to repeal Ocala's hotly debated ban on customers under age 21 entering clubs and lounges serving liquor.<BR>
Ocala's mayor serves a two-year term and receives a monthly salary of $550.<BR>
In addition to mayor, the City Council seats for Districts 2 and 4 are up in October. District 4 incumbent Kent Guinn has announced he plans to run for a third term. District 2 incumbent Mary Sue Rich said she will seek a fourth term if her health allows. Rich recently underwent neck surgery.<BR>
Ocala City Council members serve four-year terms and receive monthly salaries of $200.<BR>
The formal qualifying period for all candidates will run from noon Aug. 27 to noon Aug. 31, with city elections Oct. 16.<BR>
If candidates raise campaign cash before the qualifying period, they must file paperwork at the City Clerk's office, on the first floor of City Hall, 151 S.E. Osceola Ave. City Clerk Valerie Forster said no one has filed campaign finance paperwork yet.<BR>
Christopher Curry may be reached at chris.curry@starbanner.com or (352) 867-4115.<BR>